Construction on Dimmitt Woods, a senior housing facility in Batavia, is underway and on schedule to be complete sometime this summer. Clermont County Senior Services will operate the facility.

By Kristin BednarskiSun staff

Progress is being made on the construction of Dimmitt Woods, a senior living facility located in Batavia, and the facility should be ready for occupants by June of this year.

George Brown, former director of Clermont County Senior Services, gave Batavia Township trustees an update on the status of the project during their Feb. 4 meeting.

“It’s a great honor for us at Clermont County Senior Services, this is the seventh senior housing project in Clermont County,” Brown said.

Brown said construction is coming along nicely with crews at the site at least five days a week.

“We’re at about 60 percent completion,” Brown said about the process.

Brown said the two-story building will feature one-bedroom apartments designed for independent living.

The facility will accommodate 40 individuals who must meet several requirements including being 62 years old or older, with an annual income of less than $24,050.

Features at the building include secured entry doors, handicap accessibility, individually controlled heating and cooling, an elevator, a community room and many activities.

“We are very excited about this coming online early this spring,” Brown said.

He said they expect to be able to advertise for applications in the near future.

Brown said they already have an interest list of approximately 150 people. He said the list will be narrowed down based on when the individual signed up and also if he or she is local to the Batavia or Clermont County area.

“Historically what we find on move in, is typically everyone is in the community, and at least 20 of the 40 will be from the Batavia community,” Brown said.

The Dimmitt Woods project was announced in the summer of 2009.

Brown said the facility is named after Ezekiel Dimmitt, who built the first cabin in Batavia in 1797.

“We believe Dimmitt Woods is located on the original 40 acres,” Brown said.

Brown said funding for the project came from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing, and the Ohio Housing Financing Agency.

He said that although there is a need for additional housing in the community, the availability of funding dictates if facilities can be built.

“We are really fortunate this one got funded,” Brown said.

Other senior living facilities in the Clermont community include the Crossings of Amelia in Amelia, Summerside Woods in Union Township, Lytle Trace in Williamsburg, Steamboat Trails in New Richmond, and more.

Brown said they are hopeful construction will be complete at Dimmitt Woods by the end of June.

Clermont County Senior Services operates the housing facilities for seniors and provides an on site manager at each building.